As part of their efforts to see that Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) is brought to a minimum level in the country, Caritas Freetown engaged Police Officers of the Family Support Unity (FSU) from twenty different communities in the Western Area in a one day training session at the Twin Hall in Hastings within the Western Rural Area, on Friday the 10TH February 2023.
The training session focused on psychosocial approaches and Case Management by FSU personnel.
SGBV continues to be a major concern in Sierra Leone, with women and girls being disproportionately affected. The situation is further compounded by a lack of access to justice and limited awareness of hygiene practices.
The training programme dealt with topics such as Case Management, the role of police officers in child protection and the role of FSU in combating SGBV.
Kumba Emmanuelle Gando, an official of Caritas Freetown, intimated that the purpose of the training session was to engage FSU personnel drawn from twenty (20) communities on psychosocial approaches and Case Management handling mechanisms.
She added that even though they might have undergone similar trainings like this, however, they want to capacitate them more maintaining how the training will serve as a refresher to some of them.
Kumba expressed the view that SGBV survivor cases are not easy to handle assuring that the training will help them in whatever work they will be doing in relation to survivors within the Western Rural area.
She further disclosed that there will be quarterly engagements of FSU personnel saying this is the first session adding that at the end of the program they are expected to have developed new skills on how to handle SGBV cases.
The training was well received by the Police Officers, who expressed their commitment to apply the knowledge and skills they gained during the session in their daily work.
They also emphasized the importance of working together with other stakeholders to create a more enabling environment for women and girls relating to SGBV.
In an interview with one of the beneficiaries, the Line Manager from the Newton Police Division, Inspector David Moseray Brima, he stated that the training session was a step in the right direction in addressing the challenges faced by vulnerable women and girls in the Western Area.
He maintained that by strengthening the capacity of Police Officers to respond to cases of SGBV, Caritas Freetown is making a tangible contribution towards ending SGBV in Sierra Leone.
Caritas Freetown, it was underscored, will continue to work with them to end SGBV for vulnerable women and girls in the country.
As a follow up to our probe into issues raised in the 2021 Audi Report, this medium has now unearthed new evidences that clearly point to the fact that payment that was made to a member of staff that was attached to Sierra Leone’s Embassy in Washington, USA, Fatmata Dao, up to the period of 2019, were justifiable as it was in honour of salaries and leave allowances that she was legally entitled to.
The decision to pay her was based on the fact that she was still a staff of the Embassy in Washington although she was on study leave and as a result it was totally right for her to be entitled to salaries and allowances.
From our investigation, it was against such a backdrop that on the 21st December, 2017, the Director General (DG), Human Resource Management Office (HRMO), conveyed approval to the Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC), for Fatmata Dao, with Pin code 127806 to proceed on study leave with pay for 2017/2018 at her former duty station in America.
Our investigation further proved that on the 1st February, 2018, the DG, MFAIC, conveyed the approval to the Minister Counsellor and Head of Chancery of the Embassy.
Then on the 1st August, 2018, the DG, MFAIC, sent another memo to the Minister Counsellor/HoC that funds had been transferred to the Mission’s account in order to make payment to Fatmata Dao.
Also, in January 2019, the DG, MFAIC, issued another memo requesting the Minister Counsellor/HOC to make payment to Fatmata Dao after sending salary backlog for August to December, 2018 of US$31,368.55 and a backlog salary in respect of November 2017 to July 2018 of US$56,463.39.
On the 19th June 2019, the DG, MFAIC, conveyed an extension of approval for study leave with pay for Fatmata Dao with effective 2018/2019 from the DG, HRMO.
It must be underscored that based on approvals from the HRMO, the conveyance of approvals of memos, and physical sending of the funds, the Embassy made the payments to Fatmata Dao.
By all indications, it was realized that no clandestine or unauthorized payment was made to the diplomatic staff that borders on any corrupt practice whatsoever.
What as a matter of fact came out glaringly during the investigation is that whenever there is a change of Government some Members of staff in the country’s diplomatic missions find themselves in awkward positions as they are most times summarily recalled from their duty locations to be replaced by other political appointees. Those recalled or left out in the cold then start the tortuous process of claiming all their emoluments or entitlements.
Unfortunately, sometimes these unfortunate members of staff are treated with a dint of political discrimination, looking at them as belonging to the Political Party of the Government that was in power whilst they served in those Missions.
As a result, those caught up in a situation of having to claim allowances and benefits are treated with disdain and left to struggle until it pleases those who should effect payments do so.
After a thorough assessment, this medium has proved beyond all reasonable doubts that some of these diplomatic staff belong to the Civil Service and are not politicians.
It is expected that with proper understanding, this wrong perception will change and a clear distinction made between political appointees and public servants otherwise the trend of political discrimination will still continue.
The reinstated Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA), Paul Sobba Massaquoi, participated in the IMO General Assembly where he laid before the IMO Secretary General the Sierra Leone Maritime’s STCW Statutory Instrument that he facilitated for Parliamentary ratification and domestication as his maiden priority area during his first tenure in office as Executive Director of that entity.
It must be noted that as a STCW listed country such means a third country that ensures an adequate level of protection through its domestic laws and from the international commitments it promised to undertake.
As for Sierra Leone, becoming a white listed country means a lot in terms of an increase in the country’s blue economy.
Paul’s mission and vision is to see that transpire whilst he’s still at SLMA as ED.
His laudable strides and initiatives have helped in putting the entity in the limelight at the IMO- International Maritime Organization and one that prompted the IMO to visit Sierra Leone in April geared towards inspecting and assessing its preparedness as well as its capacity to be a white listed country.
Some of the aspects that the IMO considered in its assessment were the Maritime lighthouse, which is considered one of the IMO’s navigational tools, inspection of the country’s aids to navigation as well as some of the internal systems in place to monitor activities at sea.
Paul also engaged all stakeholders, including the supervisory Ministry, the Board and Parliament to seek their support for Sierra Leone to achieve its Maritime white list status.
The newly appointed Permanent Representative to the IMO, Ambassador Dr Morie Manyeh, was also in attendance as well as Sheik Kabba – Alternate Rep. IMO and Engineer Ibrahim Wurie, Director of Safety and Security, SLMA.
It was indeed a spectacular sight, a momentous and electrifying episode during the climax of the 13th National Delegates Conference of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) held at the Bintumani Conference Centre on Aberdeen in Freetown, on the 9th February, 2023 when the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Party officially endorsed Chief Mohamed Gento Kamara as the only contending Mayoral candidate who has been awarded the Mayoral Symbol to contest for the position in the forthcoming Local Government Election (Freetown City Council Mayoral Election) slated to take place in June this year.
Immediately, the pronouncement was made the whole Conference Centre went wild as thousands of party loyalists in attendance jubilantly shouted in celebration of the news, expressing joy and maintaining the determination that the team is now set to emerge victorious in the forthcoming elections.
There was happiness galore among the rank and file of party faithful or supporters on that day as Chief Gento’s endorsement came minutes after President Julius Maada Bio has just disclosed that his Vice President, Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh is going to be his running mate in the forthcoming elections. The revelation came amidst seemingly convincing rumours that Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh was going to be ditched and replaced with Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella (KKY).
President Bio in a joyful mood told the elated crowd of excited supporters that he has chosen his team for the June 2023 General election and appealed as well as encouraged electorates across the country to make no mistake in electing a winning team underscoring the significance of voting for Chief Mohamed Gento Kamara as the next Mayor of Freetown in order to protect the future of the Municipality by seriously mapping out and implementing impactful and developmental oriented initiatives to sync with modern trends .
After expressing gratitude for the onus and offer, Chief Mohamed Gento Kamara reassured Freetonians of an efficient service delivery system when elected as the next Mayor of Freetown and stated that his key priority areas of focusing attention and resources mentioning ensuring the unfettered supply of water from taps, undertaking thorough and sustainable cleaning exercises or programmes, recycling of waste into consumable products, promote oneness or unification by breaking the scourge of tribalism.
He encouraged all of his supporters to maintain an inclusive political strategy and to campaign beyond party and tribal lines furthering that the main objectives of his mayoral aspiration are centred around resolving tribal indifferences and create a platform for inclusive development as well as total unification.
Orange and the German Development Cooperation inaugurate in Sierra Leone the 14th Orange Digital Center in Africa and the Middle East, to train young people in digital technology and enhance employability
Today, Orange and the German Development Cooperation inaugurate the 14th “Orange Digital Center (ODC)”, in Sierra Leone, a digital ecosystem entirely dedicated to the development of digital skills and innovation. The inauguration was attended by Governmental and regulatory authorities in Sierra Leone, the German Ambassador, members of the board of Orange Sierra Leone and Orange Foundation, representatives of Sonatel and Orange Middle East and Africa and the executive committee members of Orange Sierra Leone and the GIZ Country Director for Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.
Following in the footsteps of Tunisia, Senegal, Ethiopia, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Egypt, Jordan, Madagascar, Morocco, Liberia, Botswana and Guinea, it is in Sierra Leone that the 14th Orange Digital Center in Africa and the Middle East is inaugurated.
With a floor space spreading over 500 sq. m, the ODC will provide four strategic programs of the Orange group and in partnership with the German Development Cooperation, namely:
>A coding school.
> A solidarity FabLab – one of the Orange Foundation’s digital manufacturing workshops.
> An Orange Fab start-up accelerator.
> The Orange Ventures Middle East and Africa (the investment fund of Orange Group that invests in the most talented startups of Orange Digital Center).
All programs of the ODC are provided free of charge and open to everyone. The programs include a variety of digital training for young people, guidance to address project bearers, start-up acceleration and 90% of all the trainings are practical.
Working as a network, the Orange Digital Centers allows experiences and expertise to be shared between countries and offer a simple and inclusive approach to improve young people’s employability, encourage innovative entrepreneurship and promote the local digital ecosystem.
Officially inaugurated today, the Orange Digital Center in Sierra Leone is fully operational and equipped to host several digital trainings and events. In addition, Orange Sierra Leone, in partnership with universities, will train students for free and roll out Orange Digital Center Clubs, extensions of the Orange Digital Center within some universities in the regions.
Thus, it will complement the education system to give as many people as possible access to new technologies and support them using these technologies to their full extent. The allegations that “Orange Sierra Leone is indebted to the Government in the sum of Le 80 billion inclusive of Le14.0 Billion Leones owed on custom duty taxes and further accusations that this is not the first time Orange Sierra Leone has been on shady tax deals on Government tax payments”, are totally unfounded.
Orange and the German Development Cooperation are working together as part of a development partnership within the develoPPP program, which the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is implementing on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The goal is to fulfil their shared vision, fostering youth employability while supporting sustainable growth and the country’s digital transformation. The program is also working to advance gender equality and inclusion by promoting access for women and girls to ICT jobs.
This initiative is fully in line with our commitment as a responsible operator and focuses on the following sustainable development goals: (SDG 4) quality education, (SDG 5) gender equality, (SDG 8) decent work and economic growth, (SDG 9) industry, innovation, and infrastructure, (SDG 10) reduced inequalities and (SDG 17) partnerships for goals.
Brelotte Ba, Deputy CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa says: “I am honored to be present for the launch of our 14th Orange Digital Center today in Freetown, Sierra Leone, which is part of a network of 32 Orange Digital Centers that will be deployed not only in Africa and the Middle East, but also in Europe by 2023. The objective is to democratize access to digital technology for young people – with or without qualifications. We want them to be part of the digital transformation of their country by encouraging them to become digital entrepreneurs, to create local content and thus develop the digital economy of Sierra Leone.”
Jens Kraus-Massé, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Sierra Leone notes: “I am delighted to see that our cooperation with Orange contributes to realizing the vision of a digital, innovative and resilient future of Sierra Leone and its people. Our aim is to empower every woman, every girl, every man, and every boy no matter from what background, to take advantage of the opportunities of digitalisation, to get better jobs and eventually a better live for them and their families. Therefore, I am glad that our cooperation with Orange works to this end.”
Sekou Amadou Bah, Chief Executive Officer of Orange Sierra Leone says: “We are proud to inaugurate the first Digital Center of its kind in the country. The Orange Digital Center will provide state-of-the-art facilities with free access for all, reinforcing our strong ambition to democratize digital access for young people, especially women, with or without diplomas, to encourage them to pursue their venture into digital entrepreneurship and prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow. More than 1600 young people were already trained at the center with 52% of women in just one year of activity. Everything we need to see Sierra Leonean digital champions emerge tomorrow.”
About Orange Sierra Leone
Orange Sierra Leone is one of the leading telecommunications operators and service provider in Sierra Leone with 373 employees across the country as at 31st December 2022. Orange Sierra Leone was the first Telecoms Company to incorporate a mobile financial services company, Orange Mobile Finance (SL) Limited. It also incorporated the Orange Foundation in 2019, a company dedicated towards meeting the socio-economic needs of the society. The strategic objective of the Orange Sierra Leone is to become a responsible Corporate Social Investor, guided by our Corporate, social, and environmental commitments.
Orange is present in 18 countries in Africa and the Middle East and has 142 million customers at 30 September 2022. With 6.4 billion euros of revenues in 2021, Orange MEA is the first growth area in the Orange group. Orange Money, its flagship mobile-based money transfer and financial services offer is available in 17 countries and has more than 70 million customers. Orange, multi-services operator, key partner of the digital transformation provides its expertise support the development of new digital services in Africa and the Middle East.
About Orange (Group)
Orange is one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators with sales of 42.5 billion euros in 2021 and 136,500 employees worldwide at 30 September 2022, including 75,000 employees in France. The Group has a total customer base of 286 million customers worldwide at 30 September 2022, including 240 million mobile customers and 24 million fixed broadband customers. The Group is present in 26 countries. Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies under the brand Orange Business Services. In December 2019, the Group presented its “Engage 2025” strategic plan, which, guided by social and environmental accountability, aims to reinvent its operator model. While accelerating in growth areas and placing data and Al at the heart of its innovation model, the Group will be an attractive and responsible employer, adapted to emerging professions.
Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA) and on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol ORAN).
For more information on the internet and on your mobile: www.orange.com, www.orange-business.com and the Orange News app or to follow us on Twitter: @orangegrouppr. Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trademarks of Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited.
About GIZ and develoPPP
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federal enterprise operating worldwide. It supports the German government in the fields of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education. GIZ helps people and societies to shape their own future and improve their living conditions. www.giz.de/en
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has set up the develoPPP programme to foster private sector participation to the point where business opportunities and development policy initiatives overlap. To this end, BMZ offers financial and technical support to companies that want to do business or have already started operating in developing and emerging countries. GIZ acts as one of the two official partners implementing the programme on behalf of BMZ. www.developpp.de
Press Contacts:
Orange Sierra Leone
Kamal Abass, Kamalabass@orange.com
In a bold and defiant move, Haja Fatima Nabieu, a woman deeply tied to the Bondo Society, has sparked an uproar in the town of Tongo, Kenema District, following her dramatic escape from an impending forced initiation. Haja Fatima’s flight, aided by her husband Osman Tholley, has brought the controversial practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) into the spotlight, raising urgent questions about the place of such ancient customs in modern society.
Haja Fatima, a member of the Bondo Society by virtue of her maternal lineage, was facing a fate long decided by tradition: to be initiated as a Sowei, the highest rank within the Bondo Secret Society, a role entrusted with the power to initiate other women and girls. While Haja Fatima had already undergone her initiation into the society, her family ties dictated that she must undergo another initiation to assume the position of Sowei. This tradition, deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of her community, is regarded by some as an unbreakable bond; one that cannot be escaped, even at the cost of one’s personal freedom and safety.
The gravity of her situation was made known to The Calabash Newspaper’s ace reporter, Foday Moriba Conteh, during an official assignment in the region. As he delved deeper into the mystery of her disappearance, it became clear that Haja Fatima’s life had been thrust into a perilous intersection of tradition and personal choice. In the face of mounting pressure, she made the brave decision to flee. In February 2023, with the initiation ceremony just around the corner, Haja Fatima, recognizing the life-threatening danger she was in, escaped with her husband Osman Tholley. Their flight remains shrouded in secrecy and the couple’s current whereabouts are unknown, leaving the community and the Bondo Society seething with anger over what they see as an unforgivable betrayal of tradition.
The Bondo Society, notorious for its secretive and controversial rites, has long been a focal point of criticism, particularly due to its use of FGM as a rite of passage for women. This practice, which involves painful and often dangerous procedures, has been condemned globally by human rights organizations for its severe and lifelong consequences. Victims of FGM suffer from excruciating pain, health complications, and, in some tragic cases, death. Disturbingly, reports from Tongo indicate that several young girls died during initiation ceremonies in the Bondo Society’s bush, underscoring the deadly risks that Haja Fatima narrowly avoided.
Calls for the abolition of the Bondo Society and its harmful practices have grown louder, yet political hesitation persists. The society’s deep cultural influence, especially in rural areas, poses a significant challenge to reform. Many local politicians, fearing the loss of a crucial voting bloc, remain reluctant to take decisive action.
As the controversy intensifies and threats against Haja Fatima mount, her courageous escape has become a symbol of the struggle between oppressive traditions and a woman’s right to freedom and safety. It highlights the urgent need for societal reform to protect women from such dangerous and archaic practices that continue to endanger their lives. The story of Haja Fatima Nabieu serves as a stark reminder of the power of tradition and the lengths one woman went to escape it for the sake of her life.
Legal representation was provided by the Legal Aid Board to 39 accused persons arraigned before Justice Monfred Sesay, JA at the just concluded January Criminal Sessions of the High Court on 30th January to 2nd February 2023 at the Freetown High Court No. 1 on Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown.
They make up a total of 43 accused persons called by the court. Four of those called were absent. One absentee and his sureties were issued with a bench warrant by the court.
The beneficiaries were indicted on multiple offences ranging from conspiracy to defraud to murder, larceny in a dwelling house, wounding with intent, robbery, robbery with aggravation, assault with intent to rob, shop breaking and larceny, larceny from a person, larceny in a dwelling house and fraudulent conversion.
13 of the 39 accused persons represented by the Board pleaded guilty. Nine of those who pleaded guilty were cautioned and discharged while four were sentenced to various prison terms.
Among those cautioned and then discharged were a Guinean Aminata Jalloh and a juvenile offender Joseph Sawyer not his real name. Aminata was arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit a felony and shop breaking and larceny while Joseph was on a two-count charge of house breaking and larceny.
Following their discharge, the two were handed-over to the Board to facilitate their reunion with their families.
Admonishing some of the convicts most of whom are youths and first-time offenders after plea-in-mitigation by Legal Aid Board Counsel before pronouncing his sentence, Justice Monfred Sesay warned them not to involve into anything unlawful. He said in a situation where they repeat offend, they will not be shown any leniency.
In a brief statement at the Legal Aid Board head office, the Executive Director of the Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles warned the beneficiaries against reoffending noting that the “Board is challenged with limited number of staff especially lawyers and will be constrained to provide representation to repeat offenders.”
The beneficiaries were represented by Legal Aid Counsels: Cecilia Tucker; Ibrahim Samba; Morrison Karimu; Harold Momoh; Randy Bangura; Taylor-Younge and A. Kargbo.
In a Media Release dated 8th February, 2023 and issued by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) it was stated that in a First (1st) Serialized Media Release, it will provide update and inform the general public on the actions taken so far on issues raised in the Auditor General’s Report of 2021.
According to the ACC those interventions focused on aspects of possible or alleged corruption and conducts inconsistent with the provision(s) in the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 as amended in 2019.
The ACC said after a thorough review and analysis of the aforementioned Report, the Commission initiated actions; with a view to investigating, prosecuting, or recovering of public funds, public revenue, public property, as may be necessary, in accordance with Sections 7, and 48 of the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 as amended in 2019, respectively.
It stated that as of the 8th February,2023, the Commission has recovered Public Resources in the total sum of Two Billion, Thirteen Million, Six Hundred and Sixty Five Thousand, Six Hundred and Seven (Old) Leones, and Six (Old) Cents (Le2,013,665,607.6).
With regards the PETROLEUM DIRECTORATE, the ACC stated that the Audit Report of 2021 highlighted that; the Petroleum Directorate failed to do the following in 2020: That the sum of Fifty Five Million, Eight Hundred and Four Thousand One Hundred and Twenty Five (Old) Leones (Le 55,804,125) was paid as GST, for which GST invoices were not made available to the Auditors for review.
The report further stated that the Petroleum Directorate made domestic allowance payments to senior staff totaling Two Hundred and Forty Three Million (Old) Leones (Le243,000,000) without deducting Pay As you Earn (PAYE) tax of Seventy-Two Million, Nine Hundred (Old) Leones (Le 72, 900,000).
The ACC stated that its investigation established that out of a list of suppliers provided to the ACC, by the Petroleum Directorate affected by the 15% GST payment, two out of the five suppliers had not issued GST invoices to the Petroleum Directorate and as such did not pay same to the NRA in their behalf.
It further stated that the two suppliers who did not issue GST invoices have fulfilled their 15% GST payments to the ACC, with a payment totaling to Twenty Three Million (Old) Leones (Le 23,000,000).
According to the ACC, the other two suppliers submitted NRA receipts which cumulated to a payment of Forty Eight Million, Six Hundred and Four Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty Five (Old) Leones (Le48.604,125) with a balance of Seven Million, Two Hundred Thousand (Old) Leones (Le7,200,000), which is owed by the one supplier who claimed to have documents and proof of payment of GST to NRA. The ACC has given the supplier a deadline to make submission of proof of payment or otherwise, pay in full the said amount to the ACC.
However, the sum of Seventy Two Million, Nine Hundred Thousand (Old) Leones (Le72,900,000) have been paid to the ACC by the Petroleum Directorate as PAYE for the domestic staff which the Institution failed to pay for, as in the 2021 Audit Report.
In relation to the FREETOWN CITY COUNCIL, it was also highlighted in the Audit Report of 2021 that; Withholding Taxes in the sum of Two Hundred and Seven Million, Ninety Nine Thousand, Three Hundred and Three Leones (Le 207, 099,303,00) were not deducted and paid by the Freetown City Council (FCC) for 2021.
The ACC investigations established that; FCC owed the said amount and agreed to pay the full sum.
It stated that in fact, FCC has made full payment of Two Hundred and Seven Million, Ninety Nine Thousand, Three Hundred and Three (Old) Leones (Le207, 099,303,00) into the Account of the ACC through bank transfers. The ACC Finance Department has confirmed receipt of the said payments, as they are made through Bank transfers.
For the POLITICAL PARTIES REGISTRATION COMMISSION (PPRC), the Audit Report of 2021 highlighted that; staff files and justification for payment of arrears amounting to Eleven Million, One Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand (Old) Leones (Le11,185,000.00), were not presented for audit inspection and that these contained two (2) Board members who were paid these monies by the Ministry of Finance. The ACC investigations however, recommended for the refund of the money.
The said money in the sum of Eleven Million, One Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand (Old) Leones (Le11,185,000.00) has been paid into ACC‘s Account through a deposit slip which has been submitted to the ACC.
For the AGRICULTURAL VALUE CHAIN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (AVDP)-BO the Auditor General’s Report of 2021 revealed that on the payroll documents of the Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (AVDP), 5.5 % of withholding taxes, totaling Five Hundred and Ninety Four Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty Six Thousand, Five Hundred and Fifty One (Old) Leones, Sixty Eight (Old) Cents (Le 594,866,551.68) were deducted from staff salaries. There was however no evidence of payments to the NRA.
Furthermore, the 2021 Auditor General‘s Report highlighted that the total taxes that should have been deducted from staff salaries was 10 % instead of the 5.5 %, as it was consultancy, leaving a total unpaid staff taxes of Seven Hundred and One Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Twenty One (Old) Leones (Le 701,922,721). Accordingly therefore, since there was no evidence of payment by AVDP to the NRA of the 5.5% deducted, owed the Government of Sierra Leone the sum of One Billion, Two Hundred and Ninety Six Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Seventy Two ( Old) Leones (Le1, 296,789.272).
The ACC investigation established that: Five (5) cheques for the payment of the withholding taxes had been prepared and written in favour of the Commissioner-General, National Revenue Authority and that Payment was done and copies of the cheques and NRA receipts were made available to the Investigation team in Bo.
In that regard, the NRA authorities in Bo have acknowledged receipt of the payments made by officials of AVDP into NRA Account totaling One Billion, Two Hundred and Ninety Six Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Seventy Two ( Old) Leones (Le1, 296,789.272).
During the official opening of the Sierra Leone Honorary Consulate in Jamaica on the 7th February, 2023 the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs , Dr Memunatu Pratt, commended President Bio for opening Sierra Leone to the Caribbean community and also presented the country’s rich tourism and cultural potentials for investment.
Dr. Memunatu Pratt who served as the keynote speaker at the historic opening of the Sierra Leone Consulate in Jamaica was accompanied by the Director of Tourism, Mohamed Jalloh and the General Manager of the National Tourist Board.
The Minister and team will also attend the Africa-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum as part of the series of activities they will engage in that are geared towards making a case for investment in the tourism industry.
Delivering her keynote address, Dr. Memunatu Pratt noted that the opening of the Sierra Leone Consulate in the Caribbean will not only open the West African destination to the Caribbean, but also ease the stress of travelling between the two countries and at the same time enhance cultural exchanges through tourism.
She commended President Bio for his resolve in positioning the country with the international community. She on behalf of the tourism sector congratulated the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Jamaica, Professor Rosalea Hamilton on her appointment, saying that her presence in Jamaica will not only strengthen the bi-lateral relationship between the two countries but will encourage more Caribbeans to visit Sierra Leone.
The Minister and her team joined the Government of Jamaica through their Ministry of Culture in the celebration of the legacy of the late popular Jamaica singer, Bob Marley. The event brought together reggae singers from across the world performing their different arts in commemoration of the late reggae legend. Dr. Pratt and team met with the son of the late Bob Marley who explained the commemoration of his father’s legacy. The event was an important one as the United Nations has now recognized reggae music.
The newly appointed Sierra Leone Honorary Consul in Jamaica, Professor Rosalea Hamilton and the Sierra Leone Ambassador to the United States of America, Ambassador Sidique Wai and cross section of the Sierra Leonean community in Jamaica were all part of the historic opening of the consulate.
Milestone Technology College (MTC) has launched its customized campus management system (student portal) with a refurbished website in a bid to modernize learning and to cater for the corporate well-being of all as well as certified eighty-five students after a free two-week intensive crash course on ITC held on its campus at 80E Sir Samuel Lewis Road, Aberdeen.
The certification, which MTC did in partnership with Eminence Africa Entertainment, entailed ICT training in MS word, MS Excel, Web Design, Soft Skills, Social Media Marketing, Graphics Design, photography, and videography. The training was organized to complement Government’s “Free Quality Education” scheme.
The two-part event brought together stakeholders from both the private and public sectors including representatives from the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), National Council for Technical, Vocational and other academic awards (NCTVA), Africell, Ecobank, Orange Foundation, Bank of Sierra Leone and others.
Speaking at the event on behalf of the CEO of Leone Rock Metal Group, Salim Sillah commended the efforts of MTC and disclosed that Leone Rock contracted MTC for bespoke training services in MS Office Suite, Change Management, and Leadership. “Through this training, the performance and output of staff have greatly improved. One of the participants of the training was awarded Staff of the Year,” he said.
Sallieu Jalloh from The Petroleum Directorate congratulated MTC for such a laudable investment and called on the public to embrace the transforming and disruptive technology. He testified of the knowledge he has acquired from a training facilitated by MTC. “The training request was made by the Directorate as part of the institution’s policy to improve the performance of its employees. I am satisfied with the methodology and framework of teaching,” he added.
On his part, the Corporate and Project Manager of Eminence Africa Entertainment, Emile Raymond Domingo, emphasized the importance of Technology in the present day and how it can contribute significantly to the development of the nation. He also explained how technology is transforming lives as they use such services to assist clients and provide employment opportunities for young people.
He went on to admonish the graduates to hold the fort and be productive with the knowledge gained from the ICT Crash Course. “No matter what you’ve done or successes you have achieved in Life, there is always more to do, more to learn and more to achieve,” he surmised.
Speaker after speaker lauded the 21st century innovation displayed by MTC. Dr. Roland Buck, Commissioner of Directorate of Research, Innovation, and Publication at Tertiary Education Commission, and Michael Bangura from the NCTVA applauded the efforts of the MTC, describing the stride as innovative and one that shows the commitment of MTC to implementing its mission to provide affordable and outstanding learning services to students. As regulators, they reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the College with its objectives.
Giving the keynote address, the CEO of MTC, Marliatu Peter-Bangura, expressed gratitude to the Management of Eminence Africa Entertainment for the partnership. She started with a quote from the famous David Warlick: “We need technology in every classroom and in every student and teacher’s hand, because it is the pen and paper of our time, and it is the lens through which we experience much of our world”.
She then shed light on the significance of technology and MTC’s commitment to developing Sierra Leone’s human capital sector by providing the required employability skills and technical training across the country.
She said MTC is fully accredited by NCTVA and TEC whilst also affiliated with the Institute of Commercial Management (ICM) in the United Kingdom as an approved learning center. “Milestone Technology College offers a host of programs such as Information technology, Procurement, Business Management, Software engineering, Graphic design, Accounting and finance, Human resource management, to name but a few.
“Innovation, Science, and Technology are the driving wheels for the future. Milestone Technology College, an IT and Business college located is providing ICT and business training across various career paths plus bespoke and executive training for corporate institutions to understand the significance of digital literacy and skill development,” she explained.
When asked about the College’s innovative strides, CEO Marliatu Peter-Bangura said MTC is working effortlessly to replace traditional methods of teaching with digital methods using state-of-the-art equipment and machinery. “With a team of industry experts, excellent teaching standards, digital classrooms, and state-of-the-art laboratory and equipment, Milestone Technology College is rebranding education and providing world-class services,” she told the gathering.
She ended by specifically thanking the Director General of the Petroleum Directorate, Foday Mansaray, and the CEO of Leone Rock Metal Group for trusting MTC with the responsibility of providing a tailor-made program for their team and called on partners and corporate institutions to invest in the future of the country’s youths.
